South African Poet, Author, Anthropologist and PhD Candidate, Lebohang Masango has a new children's book titled 'Mpumi and Jabu's Magical Day', co-authored with Professor Claudine Storbeck, Director of the Centre for Deaf Studies at the University of the Witswatersrand and illustrator, Elizabeth Goode with input from Masego Morulane, who illustrated her first edition Mpumi's Magic Beads.
Mpumi and Jabu's Magical Day is a sequel to Masango's debut book, titled Mpumi's Magic Beads which she self-published under her company, Thank You Books in 2018.
The award-winning author says the story follows the adventure that unfolds when Mpumi, a hearing girl, and Jabu a deaf boy meet for the first time. They learn that even though we are different; we are also the same in so many ways. "We love playing and reading, we love smiling and helping out family and friends. Everything about us makes us special."
The book is available in six languages: English, Sesotho, Setswana, Xitsonga, isiNdebele and isiZulu with the rest of the languages following soon.
Making Deaf children to be seen
One of the most brilliant features about Mpumi and Jabu's Day Magical is that it includes South African Sign Language (SASL) translation which enables Deaf children to read the story in their first language, so that the meaning of the story is not lost in translation. It re-affirms that Deaf children are normal, they just use a different language and deserve to be seen.
Masango says the beautiful thing about South African Sign Language (SASL) is translatable in all South African languages. (How wonderful?!)
A portion of the proceeds will go to Hi Hopes, an early intervention partner for families of deaf and hard of hearing babies.
Place your order on New Africa Books website here.
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